Guest Column | Food Security is Critical to Economic and National Security on Californiaās Central Coast
The agricultural stretch of Californiaās Central Coast along the Salinas Valley is often called the āSalad Bowl of the World,ā and for good reason. It supplies over 60% of the nationās lettuce and substantial portions of strawberries, spinach and broccoli. But beyond the fertile...
California Food Policy Council gathers in Salinas to chart a resilient, equitable food future
SALINAS VALLEY ā More than 75 food leaders, farmers, advocates and policymakers from across California gathered in November for Growing the Future Together, the first in-person statewide convening of the California Food Policy Council (CAFPC) since the pandemic.
Hosted in Salinas ā the āSalad Bowl...
How the drought is affecting Californiaās crops
In recent weeks, dangerous heat has killed hundreds of people in Oregon and Washington, endangered workers across the region and strained Californiaās power grid.
It has also exacerbated the slow-moving natural disaster already punishing the West: the drought.
Late last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom formally urged...
Supreme Court rules against union recruiting on California farms
WASHINGTON ā The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that a California regulation allowing union organizers to recruit agricultural workers at their workplaces violated the constitutional rights of their employers.
The vote was 6-3, with the courtās three liberal members in dissent.
Chief Justice John Roberts, writing...
King City High School Agriculture Department earns state award
KING CITY ā King City High School Agriculture Department has been honored with the prestigious California Agricultural Teachersā Association (CATA) Outstanding 4-6 Person Department Award, a recognition aimed at promoting exemplary middle and secondary programs in agricultural education.
The award celebrates the departmentās commitment to...
Monterey County supervisors spare sputtering cannabis equity grant program
MONTEREY COUNTY ā A Monterey County program to ensure equity in the local commercial cannabis market is sputtering but will continue on a smaller scale.
The county Board of Supervisors voted unanimously March 19 to continue the Growing Equity Together program, known as GET, despite...
King City Planning Commission delays closure decision on farmworker housing
KING CITY ā King City planning commissioners have delayed a final decision on the Meyers Farmworker Housing Facility until their Oct. 7 meeting.
The 4-0 vote came during the Planning Commissionās Aug. 19 meeting, where numerous community members, business owners and farmworkers spoke out on...
Monterey County looks to eliminate prior cultivation requirement for outdoor cannabis growers
MONTEREY COUNTY ā Monterey County Board of Supervisors narrowly voted Jan. 9 to make changes to its outdoor cannabis cultivation pilot program, allowing growers to double their canopy size and eliminate a requirement that made permit applicants prove cannabis was cultivated on the property...
Hartnell hosts conferenceĀ on āCulture of Food Safetyā
SALINAS VALLEY ā Nearly 400 people with a professional stake in the safety of fresh fruits and vegetables consumed worldwide gathered at Hartnell College on May 4-5 for the 17th Annual Western Food Safety Conference.
The conference, held on Hartnellās Main Campus in Salinas as...
Farms statewide hit by storms and floods
MONTEREY COUNTY ā Warm atmospheric river storms wreaked havoc on California last week, causing widespread flooding from rain and snowmelt, which overfilled rivers and creeks, displaced residents, washed out roads and damaged agriculture.
In Monterey County, there was significant flooding along the Salinas River and...

















